Hullnorris1941

Specificity of ISH and IHC was 99% and 96-100%, respectively. The sensitivity of ISH (44%) was quite low compared to IHC (100%). The exclusive use of ISH for the detection of T. gondii, and thus for the diagnosis of ovine toxoplasmosis, was not acceptable. However, combined with rtPCR, both ISH and IHC can be useful detection methods to improve histologic evaluation by visualizing the parasite within tissue sections.The objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the association of ACE I/D, -240 A > T and AT1R 1166 A > C polymorphisms with breast cancer (BC) risk. A comprehensive search on databases was conducted to identify all eligible case-control studies. Finally, 35 case-control studies, including 20 studies for ACE I/D, seven studies for ACE 240 A > T, and eight studies for AT1R 1166 A > C were included. The pooled analysis showed a significant association between ACE I/D polymorphism and BC risk under three genetic models, i.e., heterozygote (ID vs. DD OR = 0.707, 95% CI 0.528-0.946, p = 0.020), homozygote (II vs. DD OR = 0.662, 95% CI 0.462-0.947, p = 0.024), and dominant (II + ID vs. DD OR = 0.691, 95% CI 0.507-0.941, p = 0.019). A significant association was also observed in ACE I/D polymorphism with BC risk among Asians and Caucasians. However, ACE -240 A > T and AT1R 1166 A > C polymorphisms were not associated with BC. Stratified analyses by ethnicity showed a significant association of ACE -240 A > T and AT1R 1166 A > C polymorphisms with BC risk in Latinos populations, but not in Asians. This meta-analysis inconsistence with all previous meta-analyses suggests that the ACE I/D might be associated with BC in overall and by ethnicity. However, the ACE -240 A > T and AT1R 1166 A > C were associated with BC risk only among Latinos populations.Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-associated death in women. MiR-27a is highly expressed in breast cancer tissue. However, the underlying mechanisms that promote breast cancer progression are unknown. In this study, we investigated the regulatory mechanisms of miR-27a and its target glycogen Synthase Kinase 3-β (GSK-3β) in breast cancer cells. We found that miR-27a was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues, which downregulated GSK-3β expression. We further identified GSK-3β as a direct target of miR-27a, and found that the miR-27a mediated suppression of GSK-3β activated Wnt/β-catenin-associated proliferative and invasive factor in breast cancer. The cell transfection assay demonstrated the overexpression of miR-27a also enhanced cell proliferation and invasion, and reduced cell apoptosis through GSK-3β. Finally, we demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-27a facilitated breast cancer progression through its ability to down-regulate the phosphorylation of GSK-3β both in vivo and vitro. Selleck PFI-2 These findings highlighted miR-27a as a novel therapeutic target in breast cancer.Objectives Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies (anti-CarP) are reported to be associated with increased disease activity and with more severe joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The present study investigated the presence of anti-CarP in various rheumatic diseases, and their specific clinical significance in RA, in Belgian rheumatology patients. Method We tested sera from 254 RA patients, 56 healthy controls, and 153 patients with different rheumatic conditions juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), axial spondyloarthritis, systemic sclerosis, and Sjögren's syndrome (SS). An in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies against carbamylated foetal calf serum. Results Anti-CarP were detected in 88 RA patients (34.6%), of whom 82% were also positive for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) and 81% were also rheumatoid factor (RF) positive. Of note, 11 anti-CarP single-positive patients were detected (4.3%). The previously reported association with joint erosions was not detected. However, in ACPA- and RF-negative RA patients, the presence of anti-CarP was associated with higher disease activity and disability. Fifteen per cent of JIA patients and 30% of SS patients also tested positive for anti-CarP and their antibody levels did not differ significantly from those of anti-CarP-positive RA patients. Anti-CarP levels were, however, significantly higher in ACPA- or RF-positive patients. Conclusion Anti-CarP antibodies were detected in the sera of a cohort of Belgian RA patients. Moreover, they were also detected in primary SS patients and in JIA patients. In the seronegative subset of RA patients, anti-CarP antibodies showed prognostic value.Our previous studies have shown that continuous exposure to nonylphenol (NP) may cause female reproductive toxicity even at low doses. To better understand this toxic effect, the aim of this study was to investigate the basic characteristics of the disposal kinetics of NP under a chronic exposure scenario to simulate human exposure. Female rats were exposed to NP at three dose levels (50-, 500-, and 10,000 µg kg-1 bw day-1, low, medium, and high dose, respectively) by gavage daily for 17 weeks. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect NP in rat sera and tissues. The results suggested that a two extravascular compartment model was found to better match the actual serum metabolic behavior of NP. Compared with the high-dose group, the NP absorption in the low-dose group was relatively efficient, the clearance rate was slower, and the residual amount of NP was greater. NP was found mostly in the uterus, adipose and brain tissues and to a lesser degree, in the liver, kidney, and ovary. The results indicated that the extensive organ distribution may cause corresponding toxicity even at relatively low doses.

Infection is a devasting complication after primary and revision arthroplasty. Therefore, identifying potential sources of infection can help to reduce infection rates. The aim of this study was to identify the impact and potential risk of contamination for glows and surgical helmets during arthroplasty procedures.

Surveillance cultures were used to detect contamination of the glow interface during the surgery and the surgical helmets immediately at the end of the surgery. The cultures were taken from 49 arthroplasty procedures from the surgeon as well as the assisting surgeon.

In total, 196 cultures were taken. 31 (15.8%) of them showed a contamination. 12 (13.5%) of 98 cultures taken from the surgical helmets were positive, while 18 (18.3%) of 96 cultures taken from the gloves showed a contamination.

The study showed that during arthroplasty procedures, surgical helmets and gloves were frequently contaminated with bacteria. In 20 of 49 (40.8%) arthroplasty surgeries, either the surgical helmet or the gloves showed a contamination.